NEWMAN (5-8) at LUBBOCK CHRISTIAN (9-8)
Saturday, March 7, 2015 – 1 p.m.
Hays Field (Lubbock, Texas)
Radio: am950/100.7fm
All-Time Series: LCU leads 4-1

The Lubbock Christian University Chaparrals aim for their first Heartland Conference sweep of the season, as they host Newman University Saturday at 1 p.m. from Hays Field to complete a three-game series.

LCU provided head coach Nathan Blackwood his 499th and 500th career victories Friday with 1 14-3 and 8-1 win over Newman to move to 2-1 in conference play (9-8 overall). Hunter McFall, who leads LCU with a .384 batting average, is 4-for-9 in the series with five runs-batted-in. Gerardo Arzaga is 3-for-6 with a home run, double and four RBI. The Chaps, .311 as a team from the plate this season, are batting .364 in the series. Levi Westerlund will get the start on the mound. He is 1-3 with a 3.57 ERA and has 20 strikeouts in 22.2 innings pitched. Westerlund faced Newman last season in a 14-4 loss, pitching 2.2 innings of relief and allowing five runs (one earned) off five hits. LCU has a staff ERA of 5.31.

Newman is 5-8 on the season and have lost three consecutive games. Tyler Evans leads the Jets in the series, as he is 4-for-8 with two runs driven in. Evans is batting .367 on the season behind teammate Garett Thomas, who is hitting .415 on the season. The Jets, hitting .285 on the season, are hitting .246 in the series. They have a staff ERA of 5.50. Cody Frederickson is expected to get the start Saturday on the bump. He is 1-0 with a 4.91 ERA. Frederickson pitched last season in LCU's 17-7 win over Newman and allowed six runs off seven hits in one inning pitched.

The Chaps are 4-1 all-time against Newman. LCU has won the last three meetings and are 2-0 in games played in Lubbock in the series. After Saturday, LCU will play 10 straight games away from home.